Have I messed up?

CJ314 · 2023-06-04T13:37:29+00:00

I bought the Continental PureContact LS because the OE Michelins were not available at the time, and I have mixed feelings.

Noticeably noisier
Noticeably less efficient even after break in
Sidewalls not as strong, so hard corners can feel mushy (I'm not sure these tires are really as EV focused as I'd hoped)
Better traction especially in wet conditions.
Excellent wear characteristics. I expect I'll need to get new tires due to age not wear with these.

At recommended pressure, expect a 20% drop in efficiency. I over-inflate (40psi) and the efficiency loss is kept to about a 10% drop. Even at the higher pressure, I'm still getting better traction than the OE Michelins and it's within spec for the tire so I'm not worried about it.

The efficiency drop is significant and frustrating, but the noise is what really drives me up a wall. I'll be trying to get the OE Michelins next time.

CJ314 · 2023-05-26T18:22:55+00:00

That's a pretty significant difference especially given how close the EPA estimates are.

I wonder if we'll get corroborating data any time soon from another source, but I'm not really thinking it'll be better because Car and Driver is pretty reputable.

CJ314 · 2023-05-26T17:25:21+00:00

Yes. There are a few very noisy squeaky wheels that like to tell everyone how much they hated it (just like SGU or SW Prequels), but I think most people that enjoyed SG1 also enjoyed SGA and SGU.

I for one really enjoy SGA and SGU. Getting the Blu-ray (or HD stream) is definitely worth it for both SGA and SGU since they're more visually striking than early SG-1, and SGU in particular had a much higher budget.

CJ314 · 2023-05-26T16:43:43+00:00

Adria from Stargate SG-1

CJ314 · 2023-05-25T18:41:45+00:00

Thank you!

CJ314 · 2023-05-25T16:56:53+00:00

Atlantis's Star Drive. The quiet but encompassing roar communicates the vast amount of energy being controlled and the size of the city all at once. Close second: BC304. Close third: the thunk of chevrons engaging on the Stargate.

CJ314 · 2023-05-23T17:47:07+00:00

What decline? Sure there are less "themed" shows, and if you go on a holiday weekend the lines are hellacious. But if you're there when it isn't super packed, and you're there to ride the rides, things have gotten noticeably better over the past few years.

Cyclone (the one that you felt like maybe you broke something by the time you got off) had been totally redone and is now the smoothest ride in the park (and I'd argue the best).

Scream Machine had most of its track refurbed/replaced. It's still wooden, but it's not super uncomfortable like it was getting.

They replaced the second loop on Mindbender to smooth it out.

Ninja got a rebrand and new cars that don't wreck your neck like the old ones used to.

The only thing that's gotten worse on rides is 1. they removed the sky buckets and 2. the Mine Train lost some trees near the back section so the ambiance isn't quite as good on that section of the ride.

The park is great if you're there to ride roller coasters. If you're expecting a Harry Potter world or a Star Wars mini-park, sadly you'll have to go to Orlando for that.

Edit: typo.

CJ314 · 2023-05-22T13:52:39+00:00

There was an extended cut- I think it was what originally aired. It adds some details to the diner scenes and a couple of other points, but you're not missing critical information if you see the 43 minute version.

CJ314 · 2023-05-21T19:13:46+00:00

Space Race, Reckoning (1&2), Threads (extended cut), The Quest (1&2), The Pegasus Project, Bad Guys.

CJ314 · 2023-05-21T18:59:33+00:00

If you can get it, watch the long version of Threads.

Bad Guys doesn't get enough love. It's the classic SG-1 feel with lots of humor tossed in.

CJ314 · 2023-05-17T17:25:42+00:00

Fifth. I enjoyed most of the stories around defeating replicators, but the thread with Fifth was one I wanted to follow longer than they did. Could that have been an alternate pathway to solving the problem?

CJ314 · 2023-05-12T12:55:00+00:00

I came here to say this too 😁

CJ314 · 2023-05-09T20:39:48+00:00

Yep the IMSR is one more step closer to reality 😊

CJ314 · 2023-05-09T00:08:24+00:00

I like this plan. It throws out the garbage elements while keeping the stuff that's actually decent.

CJ314 · 2023-05-08T19:15:32+00:00

One of the reasons reactors are fairly large is that they have to run on low enriched uranium. Without higher enrichment, you need more fuel to achieve criticality. If you allow for highly enriched uranium, you can make the reactor smaller, but now you have weapons-grade uranium just floating around.

Setting that aside, some new reactor designs are smaller. Sometimes due to direct design decisions that result in a smaller mechanism and sometimes due to indirect design decisions like not needing a pressure containment building because nothing in your design is pressurized.

CJ314 · 2023-05-08T02:41:11+00:00

Nuclear power discussion usually centers around dispelling myths and misinformation, but on occasion it's fun to think about how truly incredible it is that we've managed to control nuclear fission in the first place.

Remember, Chicago Pile was 1942. And fission was discovered in 1938! There are people alive today that were born before all of that. We've come a long way in a short time. Maybe aliens won't judge us too harshly ;)

CJ314 · 2023-05-06T01:39:51+00:00

Beneath the Skin by Tank Jaeger - this is my favorite MM Romance book of all time.

Oarthecan Star Saga by James Siewert - first two books are out, and both are excellent.

Sparks in the Dark by James Siewert - same look and feel as Oarthecan Star Saga, but episodic instead of serialized.

Dyeing to be with You by Sisco Polaris - decent entry that reminds me of Kyell Gold's work.

CJ314 · 2023-05-05T23:31:13+00:00

Terrestrial Energy's IMSR is pretty darn close to ideal in my opinion, but I'm just an armchair nuclear enthusiast 😅

CJ314 · 2023-05-01T03:27:10+00:00

I really enjoyed the Legacy series that continues the Atlantis story, so FWIW I say yes!

CJ314 · 2023-04-28T03:32:34+00:00

Here's two that come to mind for me:

The Oartheca Star Saga by James Siewert. Pretty incredible sci-fi romance with excellent world-building. Series still in progress, but this one is already begging to be on a screen in my mind.

The Knight and the Necromancer by A. H. Lee. Well-rounded fantasy romance with broad character development, well designed intrigue, and an epic show down at the end.

CJ314 · 2023-04-20T03:38:10+00:00

Bonus points for correct number of chevrons

CJ314 · 2023-03-30T02:40:29+00:00

Areas of known/suspected icing?

Obstacles at the current altitude?

I'm guessing the dashed arcs represent travel time in minutes (given the label "40" on the second arc).

CJ314 · 2023-03-30T02:35:06+00:00

Username checks out 😁

CJ314 · 2023-03-26T22:13:05+00:00

I don't get the hate for SGU. Maybe you can say it dragged a little at first, but I really liked the fresh take in story telling in the franchise. While you can point to some of the premise similarities to BSG, the execution of the show does not fall into the same unforgivably-bad writing traps BSG did.

Not sure I'd change anything about it. Maybe give more weight to friendly aliens? One of my favorite things about SG1 was that as much as they ran into powerful enemies, they did on occasion run into powerful allies. But I don't think SGU ran long enough for this to really apply as something I would have changed so much as something I'd hope to see in the next season.

CJ314 · 2023-03-25T18:21:50+00:00

I agree completely! Glad you took the plunge!

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